Tunisia | SAT-7

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History

Tunisia has been under the administration or occupation of a number of empires, from the Phoenicians and Romans to the Ottoman Turks and the French.  The country is the site of the ancient city of Carthage, which was a dominant power in the Western Mediterranean in the 9th Century BC.

Tunisia declared independence from France in 1956 under President Bourguiba, who was then overthrown in a peaceful coup by Zine el Abidine Ben Ali in 1987.  Ben Ali ruled as president until he was forced to flee the country in 2011 following the Tunisian Revolution.

Government

Following an intensive campaign of resistance by the Tunisian people from December 2010 onwards, the government was placed under great pressure to implement reforms to combat rising unemployment, food shortages and mass political corruption.  Parliamentary elections in October 2011 saw the Ennhada party win but fall short of an outright majority.  In December 2011 a new President and Prime Minister were sworn in.

Social Issues

There are 10.62 million people living in Tunisia today, of which 14% are unemployed and 3.8% live below the poverty line.1

SAT-7 Viewership

Precise figures are not known but SAT-7 frequently receives messages from viewers in Tunisia.

Religion

Islam is the state religion and the constitution stipulates that the President must be Muslim.  Around 98% of Tunisia is Sunni Muslim, with a 1% Christian population and a significant Jewish minority.2  Proselytizing in public is forbidden, although non-Muslim religions are allowed on the condition that they do not disturb public order.  Conversion from Islam is not forbidden, but is frowned upon and there are reports of discrimination in employment and academic opportunities on the basis of religion.

Prayer Points

  • Pray for continued tolerance and co-operation from the government of Christians, so that they may worship freely.
  • Pray that the rights of children, workers and citizens are respected throughout Tunisia.

 

"On behalf of all the Christians in Tunisia, I would like to express my thanks and admiration for your noble ministry.  You have brought peace of mind to many people and helped them know that the Son of Man is the only one who can fill people's hearts with love."  A man from Tunisia

1. CIA World Factbook | 2. Middle East Concern

CHANNELS IN TUNISIA

viewer quotes

"May God bless you all. We ask Jesus to extend His hand, as nothing is too difficult for Him. We pray that He would give comfort to victims’ families in Aleppo and all of Syria. And we pray that He would stop this storm."

A Syrian viewer of 'Just for You'

"I'm Maya, 3 and a half years old from Amman, watching your bedtime story every night and can't go to bed before listening to your stories. Mama also watching with me."

From a young child in Jordan

"In a remote village in Afghanistan a Christian worker met an Afghan man who invited him to his house. There he switched on the TV, showed him SAT-7 PARS and said, “This is where I get my food from.” This man also invites his friends to come and watch SAT-7 PARS in this remote village."

A viewer in Afghanistan

"May God bless your work! This was a very sweet episode! May the programme make a big difference in our country, in the name of Jesus!"

A Syrian viewer of 'Just for You'

"Your programmes provide such a wonderful opportunity for me to explain to my children what we believe as Christians in ways they understand. It really is a precious thing to have this channel."

A MOTHER IN TURKEY

"I am from Morocco. I want to serve Jesus with all my heart. Thank you for being the source of encouragement and my spiritual growth. God bless you."

A woman in Morocco

"Five years ago I started seeking for the truth in different religions. I was lost, confused and wanted to reach out to God. I really needed comfort and peace. Thank God I found peace and the truth through the programmes and the songs on my favourite channel SAT-7."

A woman from Saudi Arabia

"I came to know Christ through your programmes. I tried to talk about Jesus to my family but they didn’t want to listen to me. So I turn the TV on during your programmes and, without saying a word, allow your programmes to talk to my family about Jesus Christ. And now they sit and watch the programmes!"

An Iranian woman from Tabriz

"Hello to you dear SAT-7 PARS team. I would like to thank you for all your nice programmes. I came to Christ a few months ago and your teaching programmes helped me to improve in my Christian faith. I am thinking of getting baptised and I would like you to advise me where can I go to get baptised."

A SAT-7 PARS viewer

"Finally, a Syrian programme has come to us! May God bless you and use you to the glory of His name."

A viewer of 'Just for You'

"I am touched by the sermons that I’m watching every Friday. I’m not able to go to church but God has opened a door for me to attend a church service in my house every week! I never thought that one day I would see bold Algerians worshipping the Lord and not afraid to be shown on TV."

An Algerian viewer

"We have a lot of believers in Israel who watch SAT-7 and we want you to pray with us for the salvation of many people in the Holy Land."

A viewer in Israel

"My son loves many of your programmes. I can leave him to watch SAT-7 KIDS without any fear that he will see information, advice or ideas that are not from the heart of God."

A mother of SAT-7 KIDS viewer

"I came across your website by chance. I never knew that Christianity is such a beautiful religion. Your site has helped correct many of the misconceptions and wrong ideas I had about the Christian faith and about Christ. I desperately need to know more about Christianity to be delivered from the aimless and hopeless life I presently live."

A viewer in Morocco